Biblical profiles: Interview with an angel
Biblical profiles: Interview with an angel
I wonder how an interview with an angel might go. I've imagined a talk show host, whom I call Chris Christian, talking with the angel, Gabriel. In this interview we will learn what God tells us about his angels.
Gabriel: Thank you, Chris. It is good to be here.
Chris: I am also happy that you are appearing in a visible form. It certainly makes my job a little easier.
Gabriel: I can understand that, Chris. That is why I am appearing to you today as a man. As you know, we angels are spiritual beings. We can assume visible forms, but we do not have a physical body.
Chris: Gabriel, can you tell our listeners some of the visible forms that you or your fellow angels have assumed?
Gabriel: Well, sometimes we have appeared to people the way I am appearing to you today—as a human being. That was the case when we appeared to Abraham and Lot. While they may have had the idea that we were angels, other people thought we were just common ordinary men. It is striking how Hebrews 13:2 speaks to this point: “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.”
Chris: But at other times your appearance was a bit more brilliant, right?
Gabriel: Yes, that was the case when we appeared on Easter morning. Then our “appearance was like lightning” and our “clothes were white as snow” (Matthew 28:3).
Chris: I would guess that such an appearance would have quite an impact.
Gabriel: The soldiers at the tomb were so afraid they shook and became like dead men. The women who came to the tomb were also surprised to see us. But we quickly told them not to be afraid.
Chris: They were also surprised to hear the message you angels shared with them.
Gabriel: God sent us to share the news of Jesus’ resurrection. Previously a large group of us had been sent to tell some shepherds about Jesus’ birth and to praise God for that birth. I personally was sent to Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, as well as to Mary. What an amazing message I was able to share with her. I told her that she would give birth to the promised Messiah, the Savior of the world.
Chris: Didn’t you also appear to Daniel when he was in Babylon?
Gabriel: Yes, I visited with him twice as I helped him understand a troubling vision that God revealed to him.
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